Speech & Language Therapy

At Nemours, our pediatric speech and language therapy programs treat children with hearing impairment, cochlear implants and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. Our specialists also work with children who have other general speech and language disorders or delays. We also work directly with you, the parents, to help transition your child's newly learned skills into your family’s home for quicker, longer-lasting results.

More Information About Speech and Language Therapy

A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas.

Speech therapy programs also work with children who have other general speech and language disorders or delays, including:

articulation disorders, which are difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly to the point that other people can't understand what's being said

fluency disorders, which include problems such as stuttering

resonance or voice disorders, which include problems with the pitch, volume or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what's being said

expressive language disorders, which include difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way (pragmatic language skills)

auditory neuropathy

Speech therapists can facilitate sign language development as a means of communication in children who are not verbal due to developmental delay or hearing loss. They also offer coping and compensatory strategies for children with auditory processing disorders.

At Nemours Children’s Hospital our speech and language therapists provide evaluation and treatment for children with hearing loss, communication, or feeding disorders in a family-centered, child-friendly environment.

We believe that early intervention can help us better determine your child’s needs. Children younger than three years old who are enrolled in therapy early in their development often have improved outcomes.

Using a collaborative approach, our team includes experts from several fields related to speech and language therapy, including:

Through this multidisciplinary approach, our speech language pathologists have
the resources to address the communication needs of newborns to high school-aged children.

Teamwork is essential in this process as we actively seek to build a strong collaboration among children, parents and family members, community-based therapists and teachers, and our clinic staff. And with all our experts under one roof, your child can often see multiple specialists in one visit.

Expert Speech and Language Care For Your Child

Each of our pediatric speech and language therapists holds a Master's degree and state certification/licensure in the field, as well as a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Just as importantly, we also know kids: how to work with them, encourage their cooperation, and make learning new skills fun.

Types of Speech and Language Disorders We Treat

Our pediatric therapy experts create personalized treatment plans for children with a wide range of speech and language disorders and issues, including:

apraxia (a speech problem where a child has difficulty moving the muscles and structures necessary to form speech sounds into words)

autism

feeding disorders/oral motor

difficulty making certain sounds

difficulty following directions

using incorrect grammar

trouble distinguishing sounds

inability to answer questions about stories

nasally speech

difficulty brushing teeth

difficulty referring to objects by name

excessive drooling

trouble feeding and/or swallowing

inability to answer (who, what, etc.) questions

inability to sound out words

Working together, we can help your child achieve significant improvements in many areas, such as:

articulation

auditory processing

expressive language development/receptive language development

phonemic awareness

reading comprehension

optimizing the use of existing assistive devices

Family Members Play an Important Role in Therapy

As a family member, you’re encouraged to participate in your child’s therapy, and will often be given at-home stimulation activities to ensure continued progress and carry-over of newly learned skills. In fact, kids whose family members are involved in their therapy are typically the ones who experience the quickest and most lasting results.

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